Cowl ventilator



G. TRAUTVETTER COWL VENTILATOR July 12, 1932.

Filed July 9, 1929 R. in mm EV WT W T R m 6 Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE TRAU'IVETTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD G. BUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA COWL VENTILATOR Application filed July 9,

The invention relates to closure devices and more particularly to closure devices, such as are adapted for use in connection with ventilator openings in vehicle body walls.

It is a main object of my invention to simplify the construction of such devices to attain lightnessand decreased cost of manufacture, while yet obtaining a structure which ispositive in operation, strong and durable.

I attain this object in large part by combining the functions which had heretofore required a number of separately fabricated elements in a unitary sheet metal stamping formed from flat metal stock and having a portion or portions thereof formed for securement to the cover closing the opening, a portion or portions to operate as a hinge element or elements and a portion to form an operating handle. I also provide a simple spring arrangement for holding the cover in open or closed position and comprising a longitudinally curved wire spring tensioned to extend in the direction of its length. All of the parts for supporting and operating the cover may suitably be arranged in a box-like mounting base which, however, forms no part of the present invention.

Other and further objects and advantages .will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the drawing forming a part hereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevational veiw of a vehicle body front unit to which the invention is shown applied.

Fig. 2 is an inside elevational view on an enlarged scale of the closure assembly.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal central sectional 40 j view through the closure assembly, and

showing in dot and dash lines, the adjacent portions of the body wall.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stamping forming a principal feature of the invention.

The invention is shown applied to the side of a cowl 10 of double walled construction, the ventilator cover 11 being shown flush with the outer paneling 12 of the cowl having its flanged edges 13 seated in depressions 1929. Serial N0. 376,892.

formed in. the outer paneling adjacent the edges of the opening.

In such double walled construction, the

inner paneling being indicated by reference numeral 14, the cover supporting and operating mechanism may be ,convenientlymounted on an inwardly open box-like, structure, which may be formed, as shown, by'sheet metal stamping 15 formed around the closure,

opening with a depression 16 adapted to receive the depression formed in the outer paneling to which it is secured as by spot welding, and provided with edge flange or flanges 17 which overlapand are similarly secured to the innerpaneling. The mounting base for the cover and operating mecha-:

pressed from flat sheet metal stock and is.

formed with spaced substantially fiat portions 19 adapted to be' applied to the cover and secured thereto, as by spot welding. From these spaced portions 19 laterally ex tending curved hinge bracketeXtensions-20 extend, the remote edges of which are bent to form eyes 21 forming elements of the hinge.

structure. The remaining elements of the hinge structure are conveniently formed by ears 22 struck up from the base stamping 15 through openings in which and through the eyes 21 extends the hinge pintle 23, which may be merely a length of wire, slightly headed at its upper end to prevent it from dropping out.

The metal between the portions 19 and 20 is drawn into a laterally projectingportion 24, the base portion 25 of which is of relatively deep channel section, as will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4:, the side walls of which mergefby wellrounded curves into the portions 19 and 20. This base channel section portion 25 provides not only a strong connection for'the operating handle portion proper 26 which extends beyond and at an angle to the hinge bracket portions 20, but also serves as an anchorage bracket for the spring 30. To this end the opposite side walls thereof are provided with holes 28 forming spring end seats.

The handle portion 26 projects through an opening in the upholstery or other interior finishing panel indicated in Fig. 3 by the reference numeral 29. Another feature of the invention is the simplified arrangement for holding the cover either in its open or closed position. To this end, a simple hair pin spring bent out of spring wire is employed, this spring being curved in its longitudinal portions 30 and having the transverse portions 31 and 32 at its opposite ends seated, respectively, in a depressed seat 33 formed in the transverse front wall of the box-like stamping 15, and in the seats formed by the holes 28in the stamping 18. V The spring is tensioned by making the distance between its seats less than the length of the spring when extended, and the arrangement ofthe spring seats and pintle 23 is .such that, in moving the cover from closed to open position or vice versa, the spring seats28-on the spring bracket portion 25 cross the line joining the seat 33 and the axis of the hinge pintle 23. This will be made clear by reference to Fig. 3, in which the parts are shown in full lines when the cover is in closed position and in dotted lines with the cover in open position.

As an aid to the retention of the spring in the seat 33, a retaining bracket 34! is provided which partly encircles the transverse end portion 31 of the spring engaging seat 33. This encircling is not sufficient, however, to interfere with the easy positioning of the spring in its seat and its Withdrawal therefrom in assembling or disassemblingthe same. The ends of the spring are arranged facing each other in the transverse portion32 thereof seated in the seats 28. This permits the ready assembly of the spring with these seats by merely springing the ends laterally, and bringing them in alignment with the holes Where, upon their release, they will spring into position. The disassembly is aflected with similar ease.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that applicant has provided an exceedingly simple, inexpensive construction for operating closure covers, and while it has herein been described as involving a particular structure and applied in a particular relation, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made to the structure by those skilled in the art, and that it is applicable in other relations, such changes and modifications being within the meaning and 1 scope of the appended claims.

' That I claim is:

1. In a closure device, a wall having an opening, a hinged cover for closing said open-' ing, and operating means for said cover comprising an integral stamping providing a flat portion for securement to the cover, spaced lateral curved extensions forming elements of ahinge and an operating handle extending centrally from said flat portion and having its base of channel section, the side walls of which are joined to the inner edges of said curved hinge extensions through curved formations.

2. As anarticle of manufacture, a pressed metal bracket adapted to be associated with a cover for an opening, and to be formed from flat sheet metal stock, comprising a portion in one plane adapted to be secured to a cover, spaced curved portions extending laterally from said first-named portion and having their remote edges shaped to form hinge elements, and a central portion having a channel section base portion pressed out from the metal intermediate said spaced portions and extending laterally from the first-named portion to form an operating handle, the side walls of said channel section base portion of the handle being joined to the inner edges of said spaced curved portions.

In tesimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

GEORGE TRAUTVETTER. 

